Tax experts lambasts the UK government’s remote duty plan.
Breaking: Spreadex to pay a £2m penalty for AML failures.
In +More: UK B&M gaming machine expansion.
France: operators hit back at ANJ claims on health of the market.
State by state: Ohio iCasino bill introduced.
Your biggest tech problems. Solved.
Fincore delivers technical solutions for the Gaming industry. For over 25 years we’ve helped clients modernise legacy platforms, unblock roadmaps, integrate complex systems, and apply AI to real-world problems. We’ll help you shape the right strategy, and then we’ll roll up our sleeves and deliver it.
Our edge? A world class team with deep domain knowledge, armed with our highly customisable IP toolkit that adapts to your architecture, whether modernising legacy or starting from scratch. That means faster delivery, smoother integration and less risk.
Stealth mode
On a sneak tip: UK proposals to consolidate remote gambling taxes under a single remote betting and gaming duty (RBGD) risks becoming the “worst kind of stealth tax,” legal experts have warned.
The consultation pitches the update as a simplification but could result in “massive” effective tax increases for betting and pool operators, said CMS tax partner Stephen Hignett.
“Three will not become one,” Hignett said, noting that duties on non-remote bets would still require separate regimes, while fundamental differences between betting and gaming are hard to reconcile under a single model.
Illusion of simplicity: The current system reflects historic and structural distinctions between different forms of gambling, which have evolved over nearly a century of UK tax policy.
“Any suggestion of simplicity might seem something of a smokescreen,” Hignett said, warning of high compliance burdens and risks of misapplied rules.
Patchy record: The handling of incentives such as free bets and free plays is a key technical concern, with Hignett cautioning that Treasury missteps could repeat past blunders. Incentives differ significantly in structure and purpose, but RBGD risks flattening these into a single regime, he said.
“If the new amalgamated RBGD is to work as it should, those differences will need to remain,” Hignett added.
I don’t like where this is heading: HMRC’s recent efforts to impose duty on in-game spins was sharply criticised for being “entirely outside both the letter of and the policy objectives behind” current legislation.
“Should we be imbued with confidence that they will make a good fist of a wholesale rewrite of the rules this time around?” Hignett contended.
Finally 21: While framed as neutral, the new regime is widely seen as a tax increase in disguise, especially given the likelihood of maintaining the 21% remote gaming duty (RGD) rate across all forms of remote gambling.
“Are HMT and HMRC going to reduce the rate of RGD below 21% at a time when national economic data is dire?” Hignett asked. “That seems extremely unlikely.”
For pool betting and fixed-odds operators currently taxed at 15%, a shift to 21% would represent a major hike, which would hit bookmakers, horseracing and UK jobs.
Overseas-based gambling businesses with UK operations, many of whom already pay corporation tax, NICs and duty, would also face disproportionate compliance costs.
False moustache and glasses: “In short, this proposed change will be widely viewed as (another) tax increase, just badly disguised,” Hignett said.
UK racing’s tax break
Horses for courses: Senior horseracing figures have broken ranks with online gambling firms, signaling support for higher taxes on online casinos, The Guardian reported.
The shift emerged at a Social Market Foundation meeting attended by Treasury officials, where racing leaders rejected harmonised tax rates that could raise duty on racing bets.
Arena Racing’s CEO Martin Cruddace said such a move would leave Britain “a world leader in online casino and a world pauper” in horseracing.
The Betting & Gaming Council downplayed the rift, insisting it remains united with racing in opposing uniform tax proposals.
Introducing Vixio Workspace: Regulatory Intelligence Meets Action
Gaming compliance pros spend up to 95% of their time on admin, not strategy. With 85% facing growing complexity and 77% saying it’s stalling growth, it’s time for change.
Vixio Workspace is your new command centre for regulatory change management. From new sweepstakes rules to AML, to advertising and responsible gambling - it turns regulatory updates into action — no more spreadsheets, silos, or missed tasks.
✅ Real-time dashboards
✅ Actionable checklists
✅ Centralised task tracking & attestation
Streamline workflows, reduce risk, and regain control — all in one intuitive platform.
Smarter gambling compliance management starts here: https://bit.ly/44QGxd0
Spreadex fine
Two strikes: UK-facing spread-betting operator Spreadex has been fined £2m for AML and social responsibility failures, its second million-pound plus sanction since 2022.
Paper trail: The UK Gambling Commission said this morning that Spreadex will now have to undergo a third-party audit to ensure it is “effectively implementing its anti-money laundering and safer gambling policies, procedures and controls.”
The failures were revealed during a compliance assessment in July 2023 and relate to the company’s fixed-odds betting and iCasino operations.
Been here before: In 2022 Spreadex made a £1.32m regulatory settlement after being found wanting in terms of AML and social responsibility.
John Pierce, Commission head of enforcement, said Spreadex’s failure to uphold AML standards, delays in necessary intervention, and weaknesses in social responsibility measures were “unacceptable.”
+More
UK gaming machines: The UK government has published the long-anticipated draft reforms that will allow B&M casino operators to significantly expand their gaming machine offerings. From 22 July, casinos in England and Wales will be able to increase the number of gaming machines and offer sports betting. John O’Reilly, CEO at Rank, which operates Grosvenor Casinos, said the reforms would “grow jobs and generate investment.”
Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) has condemned the Northern Territory government’s planned gambling tax changes, saying they were introduced without consultation and threaten the region’s licensing reputation. From July 2025, the annual tax cap for bookmakers and exchanges will double, and a new 50% tax on lottery reselling profits will be imposed. RWA CEO Kai Cantwell said the move “blindsided” operators, calling it a “short-term revenue grab.”
Czechia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that Prague’s 57 districts can regulate gambling independently. The decision allows the city council to restrict or ban land-based gambling in specific areas based on local needs. Officials welcomed the move, which contrasts with the national government’s preference for a centralised regulatory model.
Nigeria’s federal government has announced a zero-tolerance policy against underage gambling with “severe” penalties for breaches, as part of a new regulatory framework for the gaming and lottery industry in the Federal Capital Territory.
Two sportsbook technology providers have clashed in a Nevada federal court as Internet Sports International (ISI) wants to pause proceedings in its trade secrets lawsuit against rival Amelco. ISI argued litigation should be stayed pending summary judgment motions, while Amelco believes ISI is dodging scrutiny over alleged discovery misconduct and has asked the court to proceed.
The Netherlands: The Dutch government has announced it will be retaining control of Nederlandse Loterij instead of the previously discussed potential of privatizing the country’s national lottery.
Commercial
EPIC Global Solutions will deliver gambling harm awareness training to Underdog employees, including hosting a series of workshops and sessions to provide them with the tools to identify problematic gambling behavior.
Head of Compliance – Cyprus
Player Protection Specialist – Dublin
iGaming Compliance Assistant – Asia
Contested claims
Moi non plus: French operators are contesting claims by the country’s regulator that the market’s growth is comparable to other major European states.
The French Online Gaming Association (AFJEL) said events of the last year, including the Euro 2024 soccer tournament and the Paris Olympics, hid “structural weaknesses and a risk of downturn in 2025” despite data from L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux showing revenue at new heights.
There is an “urgent need to restart discussions on legalising online casinos,” which are currently illegal, said AFJEL president Nicolas Béraud, founder and CEO of Betclic.
Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, president of the ANJ, said previously that the pace of growth in the French market is “comparable to major European markets,” but that has now been contested by the AFJEL.
Falque-Pierrotin made the comparison after the ANJ reported earlier in the month that GGR rose 12% YoY to a new high of €2.6bn.
Sports-betting GGR was up 19% to €1.8bn while horseracing betting GGR rose by 1% to €339m and online poker fell 2% to €493m.
Active player accounts rose 11% to 5.7m.
Sacre bleu: New tax rates will come into effect in July, which the AFJEL warned could “impact the activity of the online market” in 2025.
The body said the tax rises and a new tax on advertising investments on the French gaming industry could weaken licensed operators “who are essential in combating the illegal market and protecting players.”
The association said illegal operators are “proliferating in France, endangering more than four million players who are exposed daily to aggressive advertising, fraud risks, cyberattacks and problem gambling.”
Warning signs: Béraud said there was an “urgent need” to restart the conversations around the legalization of iCasino. “The drastic tax increase in 2025 will threaten the viability of strategic companies, while illegal sites will gain even more ground,” he added.
“We issue a clear warning: allowing this illegal market to grow unchecked poses a serious risk to our economy, our security and the protection of millions of French citizens.”
Player Protection, Not Player Prevention
Safer gambling is now a major focus for operators and investors, vital for industry sustainability. Mindway AI’s award-winning software uses neuroscience, AI, and expert assessments to exceed player protection requirements. GameScanner offers automated, early detection of at-risk gambling, allowing timely intervention. Make your player base safer and your business more sustainable and investible.
Learn more at mindway.ai
Ohio iCasino moves
Last gasp: A bill that would legalize iCasino in Ohio has been introduced into the state Senate select committee on gaming, according to local media reports. The bill, SB 197, was introduced by Sen. Nathan Manning and would allow for iCasino, iLottery and online horserace betting.
This follows comments from state House finance committee chair Rep. Brian Stewart, who said he is working on an iCasino bill.
Tonal: Senate president Rob McColley said iCasino and iLottery were being looked at as the budget process goes on. “I think there’s a different tone and tenor about some of these things than maybe there was ten years ago,” he said.
“I think a lot of times Ohioans want to have a little bit more choice as to how they spend their money and spend their recreational time,” he said. “I think it’s something we’re going to talk about.”
"The House put kind of open-ended aspirational language in the budget. We’re having conversations with them as to what they actually meant by that. And so we’ll see where we end up."
State by state
The Missouri Gaming Commission will begin accepting applications for sports-wagering licenses on May 15, ahead of a December 1, 2025 launch. Retail and mobile license applications are due by September 12, while two standalone mobile licenses, unaffiliated with casinos or sports venues, have a July 15 deadline. The new law, narrowly approved by voters in November 2024, requires sports betting to go live by the end of this year.
New Jersey legislators have advanced a bill directing the Division of Gaming Enforcement to study the impact of advertising language on responsible gambling and youth exposure. If passed, the measure would lead to a list of approved phrases for gambling ads and restrict ads near schools and colleges. The proposal follows stalled efforts to ban all mobile-betting ads and comes as the state prepares a new high school awareness program.
Maverick case
Top gun: Casino operator Maverick Gaming has petitioned the US Supreme Court to reverse a Ninth Circuit ruling that dismissed its challenge to Washington state’s tribal gaming compacts.
The company argues the dismissal – based on the sovereign immunity of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, which intervened in the case – conflicts with how other circuits apply the Administrative Procedure Act in cases involving non-party tribes.
Maverick, which operates 18 card rooms in Washington, first sued federal and state officials in 2022, claiming the compacts unlawfully granted tribes exclusive rights to Class III casino gaming and sports betting.
The Ninth Circuit upheld the lower court’s decision to toss the case, siding with the tribe’s argument that a successful challenge could undermine its economy and government services.
Split ends: Maverick said the Supreme Court should resolve the circuit split and clarify whether tribal immunity can override APA-based lawsuits that the federal government is prepared to defend.
Events
Jun 5: Gaming in Holland, Amsterdam
Jun 9-12: IAGA, Berlin
Jun 26: Gaming in Spain, Madrid
GuardDog, powered by Underdog, is a pioneering investment fund dedicated to fostering innovation in responsible gaming.
GuardDog supports and accelerates early-stage startups focused on building new and creative solutions to address problem gaming and further responsible gaming.
Ready to be one of the underdogs of responsible gaming?
Visit to apply: https://underdogfantasy.com/guarddog
An +More Media publication.
For sponsorship inquiries email scott@andmore.media.
